Trash can assembly with motion damper for lid

ABSTRACT

A trash can assembly has an outer shell, a foot pedal pivotably coupled to the bottom end of the outer shell along the front side of the outer shell, a lid pivotably coupled to the top end of the outer shell, and a link assembly coupling the foot pedal to the lid. The link assembly includes a lifting rod that extends vertically inside the outer shell, the lifting rod moving forwardly towards the front side of the outer shell when the lid is closed. A biasing member is provided inside the outer shell and applies an opposing force against the forward motion of the lifting rod when the lid is being closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to trash can assemblies, and in particular, to a trash can assembly that has a mechanism for slowing the closing motion of the lid.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A major concern for both the home and the workplace is containing and holding wastes, refuse, and trash until permanent disposal. Trash cans act as containers for holding trash and other wastes that are produced in any typical home or office. Trash and garbage cans often employ lids and covers to contain the trash and its associated odor, to hide the trash from view, and to prevent the trash from contaminating areas beyond the lid.

Conventional trash cans have been improved over the years to make them more user-friendly, sanitary, and hygienic. For example, many trash cans are now provided with a foot pedal positioned adjacent the base of the trash can so that a user can step on the foot pedal to open the lid of the trash can, thereby freeing up the user's hands to deposit trash, or to change the plastic liner or bag that is used to line the trash can. Other trash cans have even provided an interior metal or plastic liner that fits inside the trash can, and which can be removed to be washed. However, these conventional trash cans still suffer from a number of drawbacks.

For example, the foot pedals on some of the conventional trash cans are noisy to use. In particular, stepping on a foot pedal of a conventional trash can often results in a loud banging noise as the lid is forced open immediately, and releasing the step on the foot pedal will also result in another loud banging noise as the lid slams shut under the force of gravity and the weight of the lid. These banging actions also result in wear and tear to the contacting parts.

Thus, there remains a need for a trash can that overcomes the drawbacks identified above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is an object of the present invention to provide a trash can assembly that reduces noise and wear when the foot pedal is actuated to open and close the lid.

In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there is provided a trash can assembly that has an outer shell, a foot pedal pivotably coupled to the bottom end of the outer shell along the front side of the outer shell, a lid pivotably coupled to the top end of the outer shell, and a link assembly coupling the foot pedal to the lid. The link assembly includes a lifting rod that extends vertically inside the outer shell, the lifting rod moving forwardly towards the front side of the outer shell when the lid is closed. A biasing member is provided inside the outer shell and applies an opposing force against the forward motion of the lifting rod when the lid is being closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention shown with the lid opened.

FIG. 2A is a side plan view of the link assembly of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 with the lid closed.

FIG. 2B is a side plan view of the link assembly of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 with the lid partially opened.

FIG. 2C is a side plan view of the link assembly of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 with the lid completely opened.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the link assembly of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 with the lid closed.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the link assembly of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 with the lid completely opened.

FIG. 4A is a top plan view of the biasing member and lifting rod of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 when the lid is closed.

FIG. 4B is a top plan view of the biasing member and lifting rod of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 when the lid is completely opened.

FIG. 5A is a cut-away side view of the lifting rod and the lid of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 when the lid is closed.

FIG. 5B is a cut-away side view of the lifting rod and the lid of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 with the lid partially opened.

FIG. 5C is a cut-away side view of the lifting rod and the lid of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 when the lid is completely opened.

FIG. 6A is an expanded view of the lifting rod and the connector housing of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 when the lid is closed.

FIG. 6B is an expanded view of the lifting rod and the connector housing of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 with the lid partially opened.

FIG. 6C is an expanded view of the lifting rod and the connector housing of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1 when the lid is completely opened.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are top plan views illustrating the adjustment of the resilient element with respect to the lifting rod of the trash can assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.

FIGS. 14B illustrate one embodiment of a trash can assembly 20 according to the present invention. The assembly 20 has an outer shell 22 and an inner liner (not shown) that is adapted to be retained inside the outer shell 22. The outer shell 22 is supported on a base 52. An upper support frame 32 can be secured to the opened top of the outer shell 22, and can be provided in a separate material (e.g., plastic) from the outer shell 22.

The outer shell 22 can assume any configuration. As a non-limiting example, FIG. 1 illustrates the outer shell 22 as having a generally planar rear wall 24 with a generally semi-circular front wall 26. The inner liner can have the same, or different, shape as the outer shell 22. A lid 28 is pivotably connected to a ledge 30 of a top edge of the rear wall 24 via two hinged connections. Referring also to FIG. 7, each hinged connection includes a pair of parallel extensions 34 provided at the inner part of the flange 36 of the lid 28 at the rear of the lid 28, and a pair of parallel extensions 38. The extensions 38 extend rearwardly from the rear wall 35 of the upper support frame 32. The extensions 34 and 38 are adapted to be aligned and positioned together, with a pivoting shaft 33 (see FIGS. 5A-5C) inserted through openings (not shown) provided in these extensions 34, 38 to form a hinged connection. The outer shell 22 and its lid 28 can be made of a solid and stable material, such as a metal. A bracket 40 is also secured at the inner part of the lange 36 at the rear of the lid 28, and has an opening that is adapted to receive an upper hooked end 42 of a lifting rod 44. An opening 66 is provided on the ledge 30 of the upper support frame 32 through which an upper portion of the lifting rod 44 extends.

Referring also to FIGS. 2A-3B, a foot pedal 48 is secured to (or made in one piece with) a pedal bar 50 that is pivotably coupled to the base 52 (e.g., using a fulcrum rod, as is well known in the art) at a pivoting axis 54 that is located at about the center of the pedal bar 50. The pedal bar 50 can be made of a material (e.g., metal) that carries some weight, or can be made from a lightweight material (e.g., plastic). The front of the pedal bar 50 is connected to the foot pedal 48, and the length of the pedal bar 50 extends along the base 52, with the rear of the pedal bar 50 pivotably coupled to the lifting rod 44 that extends upwardly along the rear of the outer shell 22 to connect the lid 28. The hooked end 42 is provided at the top end of the lifting rod 44 for coupling to the bracket 40.

The pedal bar 50 and the lifting rod 44 operate to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal 48 to an up-down pivot motion for the lid 28. In particular, the pedal bar 50 can be pivoted between two positions, a first rest position as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A where the foot pedal 48 is at a vertically higher position than the rear of the pedal bar 50, and a second open position (where the lid 28 is completely opened) as shown in FIGS. 2C and 3B where the foot pedal 48 is pressed to a vertically lower position than the rear of the pedal bar 50. In the second opened position, the foot pedal 48 is pressed to cause the pedal bar 50 pivot, causing the rear of the pedal bar 50 to be raised upwardly, thereby pushing the lifting rod 44 upwardly and rearwardly to cause the hooked end 42 to push the bracket 40 upwardly and rearwardly, which causes the lid 28 to open. FIGS. 5A-5C and 6A-6C illustrate this simultaneous upward and rearward motion of the lifting rod 44 in its sequential manner, from FIGS. 5A and 6A to FIGS. 5B and 6B, and then to FIGS. 5C and 6C, with the lifting rod 44 shown in FIG. 5C (in the opened position) as occupying a higher and rearward position with respect to the opening 66 as compared to FIG. 5A (in the closed or rest position). When the foot pedal 48 is maintained in this second opened position, the hooked end 42 will continue to maintain the lid 28 in the opened position. When the force on the foot pedal 48 is removed, the combined forces from the weight of the lid 28 (if applicable), the weight of the pedal bar 50 (if applicable), and gravity, will push the lifting rod 44 simultaneously downward and forward (from FIGS. 5C and 6C to FIGS. 5B and 6B, and then to FIGS. 5A and 6A), causing the pedal bar 50 to pivot to the first rest position. Unfortunately, these combined forces can be large enough to cause the lid 28 to slam shut very quickly. As a result, the present invention provides a mechanism for slowing this closing motion of the lid 28, which focuses on slowing the downward and forward movement of the lifting rod 44.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8B, a connector housing 60 is secured to the upper support frame 32 adjacent the ledge 30 and the top of the outer shell 22. The connector housing 60 has a top plate 62, and is secured to a block 64 provided on the upper support frame 32 via screws. Specifically, an elongated biasing member 68 (e.g., a spring) has a first end 70 that is attached to the block 64 via a first plurality of connection screws 72 that extend through the biasing member 68 and openings 82 in the block 64, and into corresponding aligned screw holes 74 in the connector housing 60. A second connection screw 76 extends through a bracket 78 in the upper support frame 32 and into a corresponding aligned screw hole 80 in the connector housing 60. The lifting rod 44 is positioned between the rear of a second free end 86 of the biasing member 68 and the rear wall 24 of the outer shell 22. The biasing member 68 operates to slow the closing motion of the lid 28 by applying an opposing bias or force against the motion of the lifting rod 44 during the closing motion of the lid 28.

In particular, FIGS. 2C, 3B, 4B, 5C and 6C illustrate the relationship between the lifting rod 44 and the biasing member 68 when the lid 28 is completely opened. In this opened position, the lifting rod 44 is positioned in the rear of the opening 66 (see FIGS. 2C and 6C), and is disengaged from the biasing member 68 (see FIGS. 3B and 4B). As the force on the foot pedal 48 is released, the combined forces from the weight of the lid 28 (if applicable), the weight of the pedal bar 50 (if applicable), and gravity, will push the lifting rod 44 downwardly and forward, forcing the lifting rod 44 to move simultaneously downwardly and forward towards the front of the opening 66 (see FIGS. 2B, 5B and 6B). As the lifting rod 44 moves towards the front of the opening 66, the lifting rod 44 will engage the biasing member 68, which in turn exerts an opposite force or bias against the forward movement of the lifting rod 44. This opposite force or bias will slow down the forward movement of the lifting rod 44, which simultaneously slows the downward movement of the lifting rod 44. This allows the lid 28 to be closed slowly, without an undesirable slamming action.

FIGS. 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A illustrate the relationship between the lifting rod 44 and the biasing member 68 when the lid 28 is completely closed. When the lid 28 is completely closed, the lifting rod 44 engages the second free end 86 of the biasing member 68. To re-open the lid 28, the user presses on the foot pedal 48, causing the lifting rod 44 to move simultaneously upwardly and rearwardly within the opening 66 (see FIGS. 2B and 6B). Since the lifting rod 44 is moving rearwardly within the opening 66, the bias or force exerted by the biasing member 68 against the lifting rod 44 will slowly ease (i.e., less resistance will be imparted by the biasing member 68 as the lid 28 opens), until the lid 28 reaches the completely opened position shown in FIGS. 2C, 3B, 4B, 5C and 6C.

The lifting rod 44 can be angled to allow the lifting rod 44 to experience the simultaneous transverse motions (i.e., downward and forward, or upward and rearward) described above. In particular, the lifting rod 44 can be provided with a lower section 44a that is angled with respect to an upper section 44b. The lower section 44a can be angled with respect to the pedal bar 50.

An adjustment mechanism can be provided to adjust the resiliency of the biasing member 68. Specifically, the block 64 has a recessed edge 90 (see FIGS. 4A and 8A), and an adjustment screw 92 extends through the biasing member 68 and an opening 94 in the block 64, such that a gap 96 is always defined between the recessed edge 90 and the biasing member 68. The screw 92 can be adjusted to change the size of the gap 96 to adjust the resiliency of the biasing member 68. For example, a tighter resiliency is provided if the gap 96 is decreased, while lesser resiliency is provided if the gap 96 is increased. Thus, this adjustment allows the user to be able to adjust the degree to which the closing motion of the lid 28 is slowed.

An optional lower housing 180 can be provided on the base 52 for housing and protecting the lower section 44b and a portion of the upper section 44a of the lifting rod 44. An opening 182 can also be provided in the top of the lower housing 180, so that the lifting rod 44 can move forwardly and rearwardly within the opening 82.

In addition, although the biasing member 68 is provided adjacent the upper end of he lifting rod 44, it is also possible to position the biasing member 68 adjacent the lower end of the lifting rod 44, such as adjacent the lower housing 80.

Thus, the present invention provides a biasing mechanism 68 that slows the downward motion of the lifting rod 44, thereby slowing the closing motion of the lid 28. The structure of the biasing member 68 is very simple, thereby reducing the cost of the rash can assembly while improving its performance and effectiveness.

The above detailed description is for the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 

1. A trash can assembly, comprising: an outer shell having an enclosing wall, a top end, a bottom end, and a front side; a foot pedal pivotably coupled to the bottom end along the front side; a lid pivotably coupled to the top end; a link assembly coupling the foot pedal to the lid, the link assembly including a lifting rod that extends vertically inside the outer shell, the lifting rod moving forwardly towards the front side of the outer shell when the lid is closed; and a biasing member provided inside the outer shell and applying an opposing force against the forward motion of the lifting rod when the lid is being closed.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lifting rod experiences simultaneous downward and forward motions when the lid is closed.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the lifting rod experiences simultaneous upward and rearward motions when the lid is raised.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a resilient elongated member having opposing first and second ends, with the first end secured to the outer shell and the second end positioned adjacent the lifting rod such that the lifting rod is positioned between the outer shell and the elongated member.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, further including means for adjusting the resiliency of the elongated member.
 6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the second end of the elongated member applies the opposing force against the forward motion of the lifting rod.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lifting rod has an upper section and a lower section that is angled with respect to the upper section.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lifting rod has an upper hooked end that is pivotably coupled to the lid, with the upper hooked end experiencing simultaneous upward and rearward motions when the lid is raised.
 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lifting rod has an upper hooked end that is pivotably coupled to the lid, with the upper hooked end experiencing simultaneous downward and forward motions when the lid is closed.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, further including a lower housing provided adjacent the bottom end of the outer shell, with a portion of the lifting rod housed inside the lower housing.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is positioned adjacent an upper end of the lifting rod.
 12. A method of slowing the closing motion of a lid of a trash can assembly, comprising: a. providing a trash can assembly having: an outer shell having an enclosing wall, a top end, a bottom end, and a front side; a foot pedal pivotably coupled to the bottom end along the front side; a lid pivotably coupled to the top end; a link assembly coupling the foot pedal to the lid, the link assembly including a lifting rod that extends vertically inside the outer shell, the lifting rod moving forwardly towards the front side of the outer shell when the lid is closed; and b. applying an opposing force against the forward motion of the lifting rod when the lid is being closed. 